The Yearlings, Matty Ellis @The Front, Canberra (16/2/11)

Fri 18th Mar, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The first time I saw The Yearlings was on a quiet, nondescript Sunday a few years back. I had wandered into The Front for a pot of tea and decided to stay for the band that was playing. That ended up being a pretty good decision, so when I heard they were playing at The Front once again this month, I jumped at the chance to go along.

Lending his talents for support on Wednesday night was Matty Ellis of The Ellis Collective fame. Ellis, with his soothing vocals and ‘bloke folk’ vibe, played a set that showed off his impressive solo talent, while still retaining what we associate best with The Ellis Collective. He was joined by The Collective’s Sam King on guitar, and Ellis proved that he’s one of those with the rare talent to be just as good solo as he is in a band. Finishing up with Don’t Go, Ellis’ set was just the thing to prepare the crowd for what was to come.

The Yearlings’ sound is suited for a place like The Front to a tee. Their dreamy, gentle tunes were perfect for the gathered crowd to relax to, something of a mid-week respite. Opening with a track off their latest offering Sweet Runaway called Butterfly, they had the crowd transfixed for the next 40 minutes. It’s a rare pleasure seeing a band whose music can make you forget everything else, even if it’s just for a moment. That’s exactly the quality The Yearlings possess. Songs such as Black Shoes On, Sweet Runaway and Don’t Feel Kind let us pretend, just for a few moments that it wasn’t a school night and more than a little chilly outside. The Yearlings played a rather lengthy set, but as usual when a band is that good, nothing ever seems long enough. Their sweet, honey drenched ‘Angus-and-Julia-Stone-gone-rustic’ sound had found the perfect home for the night, pleasing loyal fans and no doubt picking up a few new ones.

After such a divine evening, and a rather comforting pot of tea it was a bit of a shame that it was indeed Wednesday and there was no respite from the daily grind that lay ahead. However rest assured that the next time The Yearlings pop into town we can once again forget the day of the week.